Blazers' continuity shows in early-season success

Houston Rockets' Clint Capela, from left, PJ Tucker and James Harden walk on the bench during the fourth quarter of the NBA game against the LA Clippers at Toyota Center on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, in Houston. The Houston Rockets lost to the LA Clippers 133-113.

Houston Rockets' Clint Capela, from left, PJ Tucker and James Harden walk on the bench during the fourth quarter of the NBA game against the LA Clippers at Toyota Center on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, in Houston.

Houston Rockets' Clint Capela, from left, PJ Tucker and James Harden walk on the bench during the fourth quarter of the NBA game against the LA Clippers at Toyota Center on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, in Houston. The Houston Rockets lost to the LA Clippers 133-113.

Houston Rockets' Clint Capela, from left, PJ Tucker and James Harden walk on the bench during the fourth quarter of the NBA game against the LA Clippers at Toyota Center on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, in Houston.

While the Rockets have generally called on five players that were not on the roster last season, the Trail Blazers have had greater stability than most teams, with only Nik Stauskas and Seth Curry playing regularly among the Portland newcomers.

Though the Blazers have changed things up, the roster stability has made that smoother, especially compared to the Rockets who have had to repeatedly change their rotation throughout the season. The Blazers have had the same starters for all seven games, the Rockets in no more than two.

"We enjoy the continuity that we've had," Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. "This is the third year in a row we've had continuity and we've gotten off to poor starts in two of those years. We're hoping to break that trend. There is a familiarity. There is a certain level of comfort that everybody is on the same page. But along with that, you don't want to take that for granted and have complacency with that.

"I've always looked back at the San Antonio teams with Coach Pop (Gregg Popovich) and the Utah teams with Coach (Jerry) Sloan. There is that continuity, but at the same time, they go into each season like it's a new team, a new season."

For all his changes over the years, Popovich has often citing "institutional knowledge" for making the revisions in his system and offensive style go more smoothly.

"We've changed some things," Stott said. "We've put the emphasis on different things offensively. We've changed the rotation, put in some sets that emphasize passing and cutting. Even though there is some personnel continuity, you look at the second unit with Seth and Nik that's been pretty effective for us, they weren't with us last year. Evan (Turner) has a new role in that second unit."